AMMAN – Since October 7,
over 22,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed in Gaza, with tens of
thousands being children. In a historic move, South Africa became the first
country to file a lawsuit against Israel in the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, labeling the events on the strip as genocide. As the court
proceeds with the hearings in the next couple of days, the world is turning to
its final resort to bring justice and halt the aggressions.
اضافة اعلان
The 84-page lawsuit,
submitted by South Africa to the court on December 29, includes accompanying
evidence detailing Israeli occupation crimes in Gaza. The court recognized as
an international body for settling disputes between countries, is urgently requested
to swiftly declare that Israel has violated its obligations under international
law since
October 7. With many countries providing legal and evidence support,
including the Kingdom,
Jordan News conducted several interviews with
officials, politicians, and analysts to discuss the case and its outcomes.
Jordan’s stance is
honorableFormer Prime Minister
Taher Al-Masri told
Jordan News that Jordan's stance is honorable,
precise, and appropriate. He believes that His Majesty the King's recent visit
to Rwanda, a country that suffered massacres and ethnic cleansing, and the
discussion of the situation in the region, especially the dangerous
developments in the Gaza Strip, justify the support for South Africa's
initiative.
Proves to the world that
Israel is not above the law
He considered South
Africa's move very important, anticipating that there would be objective and
neutral details. He added “Regardless of Israel's influence and its perception
of being above the law, the world has changed. The approach to shielding Israel
from any punishment is fading. No matter how they try to protect Israel in
court, the goal has been achieved by officially, governmentally, and humanely
exposing and accusing it.”
Al-Masri expressed,
"I believe that if the case goes to trial, it will take a long time, and
Israel will be the subject of international discussions about the scandals and
crimes it committed."
He also stated that he
does not think the war will continue for long, as the US Secretary of State
announced decisions two days ago to ease the fighting and strive to establish a
Palestinian state.
The filing of the lawsuit
is an embarrassment for Israel
Meanwhile, Former Deputy
Prime Minister
Marwan Al-Muasher told
Jordan News that filing the
lawsuit itself constitutes embarrassment for Israel in front of public opinion.
Accusing Israel of war crimes and genocide undermines the Israeli narrative
about the war on Gaza. He stated, "There is symbolic significance to this
step. The country filing the lawsuit had suffered from the apartheid regime,
fully aware of the nature of such a system. It's as if South Africa
acknowledges that what is happening in Israel today is a form of
apartheid."
The lawsuit does not
require a unanimous decision
Muasher mentioned that
the court, consisting of 15 judges from around the world, does not necessarily
require a unanimous decision. A majority decision will suffice, and he believes
there is a good chance of Israel being condemned. Many pieces of evidence,
including statements from Israeli officials like Defense Minister Yoav Gallant,
who referred to Palestinians as human animals, indicate Israel's commitment to
genocide. Additionally, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli
ministers expressed the need to destroy Gaza. The death toll, exceeding 23,000,
with possibly 10,000 children and women, alone raises serious doubts about
Israel’s goal in the war to
‘eliminate Hamas.”
He added that Gaza has
become uninhabitable, with places of worship, hospitals, and schools being
targeted. Last week, two US Senators visited the crossings in Egypt, witnessing
how Israel prevents the entry of humanitarian aid unrelated to weapons.
Israel represented itself
20 years ago in another case…and lost
Muasher emphasized
“Israel represented itself before the court 20 years ago in the case of the
wall and lost. However, predicting the court's decision is challenging. Some
clues may lead to a positive outcome, as all evidence suggests that the war
will persist. Israel wants to eliminate Hamas's military capability, but it
seems unable to do so despite increasing international pressure to stop the
war.”
Muasher also added “If
the court's decision favors the lawsuit, it could be an additional factor in
stopping the war. South Africa declared that it did not want anyone to join the
lawsuit, as it would delay the court's decision. However, the fact that Jordan
announced filing proceedings against Israel alone signifies progress in
Jordan's position compared to many other Arab countries.”
MP Saleh Al-Armouti told
Jordan
News that what South Africa has done is an advanced and commendable step.
“South Africa sent a written memorandum to the Zionist entity to respond to the
complaint within a limited period. Any member state has the right to join South
Africa and submit pleadings and written memoranda guided by the court,” he
said.
I am very optimisticHe added, "I am very
optimistic because the court relies on data from countries, international
organizations, and human rights, all of which present clear and strong
arguments. If the International Court of Justice decides to cease fire, it will
be a decisive indication that the enemy has committed genocide against the
Palestinian people."
The ICJ case can be used
for evidence in the ICC
He added that those who
filed a lawsuit with the International Criminal Court (ICC) can rely on the
decision issued by the ICJ to condemn the entity for crimes, using it as
evidence against the US Secretary of State, Biden, and others who provided
assistance to the entity and supported the killing of children, women, and
elderly civilians. This complaint has caused significant concern for Israel.
Armouti said Jordan had
previously filed a complaint in 2004 to the Security Council, which the
Security Council turned into an advisory opinion to the ICJ regarding the
"Separation Wall." The ICJ stated that the wall is contrary to
international law and must be removed, but to this day, it has not been
dismantled.
He pointed out that if a
condemnation decision is issued, this will tamper with global public opinion
which may have once held the occupation to a high standard, including its
accomplices, with the US being a staunch supporter of the occupation defending
itself.
He also noted that Jordan
has signed and ratified the Genocide Convention since 1950, and similarly, the
Israeli occupation signed it in 1949. Therefore, this decision will be binding
on all signatory states and those that have ratified the law on preventing
genocide.
Raising the complaint
alone is a significant step
Furthermore, Political
Analyst Ismat Mansour, specializing in Israeli affairs, told
Jordan News “The complaint is a very brave step taken by a country against Israel. Just
raising the complaint against Israel and bringing it to the ICJ has a
significant impact and value because Israel has put itself in a position to
justify its behavior. This complaint is built on statements made by Israelis
themselves, constituting a scandal for Israel regardless of the lawsuit's
outcome.”
He also stated that
Israel is well-prepared to respond to this complaint and is making significant
efforts.
Regardless of the court's
decision, the war will not stop because stopping it or even achieving a
stalemate would be a defeat for Israel and, consequently, its end.
Mansour also indicated
that “The US will exert pressure on the court to reject the case at multiple
levels to ensure that no decisions are issued in favor of the Palestinian
cause.”
If Israel loses it is
binding and not subject to discussion
He concluded, "I am
optimistic, but cautiously so because Israel is arming itself with many legal
measures to make this lawsuit difficult and to consider itself above the law.
If Israel loses the lawsuit, it will face a dilemma because the court's decision
is binding and not subject to discussion."
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